Regulatory Compliance Inspection Report The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School February 2019
Contents
2
Contents Contents
2
School’s Details
3
1.
Background Information
4
About the school
4
What the school seeks to do
4
About the pupils
4
Regulatory Compliance Inspection
5
Preface
5
Key findings
6
PART 1 – Quality of education provided
6
PART 2 – Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
6
PART 3 – Welfare, health and safety of pupils
6
PART 4 – Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors
6
PART 5 – Premises of and accommodation at schools
6
PART 6 – Provision of information
7
PART 7 – Manner in which complaints are handled
7
PART 8 – Quality of leadership in and management of schools
7
Inspection Evidence
8
2.
3.
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
School’s Details
3
School’s Details School College
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School
DfE number
851/6004
Registered charity number
1063732
Address
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School High Street Portsmouth Hampshire PO1 2LN
Telephone number
02392 3664219
Email address
juniorschool@pgs.org.uk
Headteacher
Mr Peter Hopkinson
Chair of governors
Mr Walter Cha
Age range
2 to 11
Number of pupils on roll
420
Inspection dates
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
Boys
236
EYFS
90
Girls
184
Juniors
330
13 to 14 February 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
Background Information
4
1.
Background Information
About the school 1.1
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School is an independent day school for pupils aged from 2 to 11 years. It is a registered charity and the governors are the trustees. The junior school shares a site with the senior school, which educates pupils aged from 11 to 18 years. The senior school was inspected separately and at the same time.
1.2
The junior school was established in 2000. The Nursery, catering for children aged from 2 to 4 years, opened in 2001. The school also comprises: Reception, for children aged from 4 to 5 years; Infant, for pupils aged 5 to 7 years; and Junior, for pupils aged from 7 to 11 years.
1.3
Since the previous inspection, a new chair of governors and bursar have been appointed.
What the school seeks to do 1.4
The school’s aim is to ignite curiosity, imagination and a passion for lifelong learning. The school seeks to nurture confidence and creativity, value service and leadership in equal measure, and celebrate each individual, along with the contribution that each individual makes to the wider community.
About the pupils 1.5
Pupils come from a range of professional backgrounds, mostly from white British families living within a 15-mile radius of the school. The school’s own assessment indicates that the ability of pupils is above average. The school has identified 43 pupils as having special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), which include dyslexia, speech and language, gross and fine motor skill and social communication difficulties. No pupil in the school has an education, health and care plan (EHC), or a statement of SEND. 47 pupils speak English is an additional language (EAL), 7 of whom receive additional support.
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
Regulatory Compliance Inspection
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5
Regulatory Compliance Inspection
Preface The registration authority for independent schools is the Department for Education (DfE), which directs inspection according to a specified frequency or at any time where the DfE has particular concerns about a school. The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is the body approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of inspecting schools which are, or whose heads are, in membership of the associations which form the Independent Schools Council (ISC) and reporting on the extent to which they meet the Independent School Standards (‘the standards’) in the Schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. Accordingly, inspection records whether the school meets each of these standards, which are arranged in eight Parts, each of which is divided into separate paragraphs. The inspection of schools that have early years settings not requiring registration similarly records whether the school complies with key provisions of the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework, and for registered settings the full range of the Early Years Foundation Stage provisions is considered. Additionally, the inspection reports on the school’s accessibility plan under Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 and the ban on corporal punishment under section 548 of the Education Act 1996. It comments on the progress made by the school in meeting the compliance action points set out in the school’s most recent statutory inspection. All association independent schools will have an inspection within three years from April 2016, in accordance with the Framework and DfE requirements. The inspection may be of COMPLIANCE ONLY or a combined inspection of EDUCATIONAL QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE depending on a number of factors, including findings from their most recent inspection. Schools judged not to meet the standards may also be subject to a progress monitoring visit before their next routine inspection. The progress monitoring visit will judge whether the school has taken the necessary action to meet any un-met standards identified at their previous inspection. The inspection was also carried out under the arrangements of the ISC Associations for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of their membership. This is a COMPLIANCE ONLY inspection and as such reports only on the school’s compliance with the standards. The standards represent minimum requirements and judgements are given either as met or as not met. All schools are required to meet all the standards applicable to them. Where the minimum requirements are not met, this is clearly indicated in the relevant section of the report and the school is required to take the actions specified. Inspections do not include matters that are outside of the regulatory framework described above, such as: an exhaustive health and safety audit; compliance with data protection requirements; an in-depth examination of the structural condition of the school, its services or other physical features; contractual arrangements with parents; an investigation of the financial viability of the school or its accounting procedures. Inspectors may be aware of individual safeguarding concerns, allegations and complaints as part of the inspection process. Such matters will not usually be referred to specifically in published reports in this document but will have been considered by the team in reaching its judgements. Links to the full regulations and requirements can be found here: The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework.
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
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Key findings 2.1
The school meets the standards in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, and relevant requirements of the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, and associated requirements, and no further action is required as a result of this inspection.
PART 1 – Quality of education provided 2.2
The school uses its own framework to determine attainment, instead of the national framework.
2.3
The curriculum is documented, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work for the pupils and covers the required breadth of material. The teaching enables pupils to make good progress, encompasses effective behaviour management and is supported by suitable resources. A suitable framework for the assessment of pupils’ performance is in place.
2.4
The standards relating to the quality of education [paragraphs 1–4] are met.
PART 2 – Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils 2.5
Principles and values are actively promoted which facilitate the personal development of pupils as responsible, tolerant, law-abiding citizens.
2.6
The standard relating to spiritual, moral, social and cultural development [paragraph 5] is met.
PART 3 – Welfare, health and safety of pupils 2.7
Arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils by means that pay due regard to current statutory guidance; good behaviour is promoted; bullying is prevented so far as reasonably practicable; health and safety requirements are met, including those relating to fire safety; provision is made for first aid. Pupils are properly supervised; admission and attendance registers are maintained, as required, and there is a strategic approach to risk assessment. A disability access plan is in place.
2.8
The standards relating to welfare, health and safety [paragraphs 6–16], the requirement of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010, and the ban on corporal punishment under section 548 of the Education Act 1996 are met.
PART 4 – Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors 2.9
The school makes appropriate checks to ensure the suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors and a register is kept as required.
2.10 The standards relating to the suitability of those in contact with pupils at the school [paragraphs 17–21] are met.
PART 5 – Premises of and accommodation at schools 2.11 Suitable toilet and changing facilities, and showering facilities where required by the standard, and appropriate accommodation for pupils’ medical and therapy needs are provided. The premises are maintained to a standard commensurate with health and safety; acoustics and lighting are appropriate; water provision is adequate. Suitable outdoor space is provided for physical education and outdoor play. 2.12 The standards relating to the premises and accommodation [paragraphs 22–31] are met. © Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
Regulatory Compliance Inspection
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PART 6 – Provision of information 2.13 A range of information is variously published, provided or made available to parents, inspectors and the Department for Education. These include details about the proprietor, the ethos of the school and the curriculum, and of the school’s arrangements for admission, behaviour and exclusions, bullying, health and safety, first aid, details of the complaints procedure, and the number of complaints registered under the formal procedure during the preceding school year, and the provision for any with EHCs or EAL. They also include particulars of the school’s academic performance during the preceding school year, inspection reports and (for parents only) a report at least annually of their own child’s progress. The safeguarding policy is posted on the school’s website. 2.14 The standard relating to the provision of information [paragraph 32] is met.
PART 7 – Manner in which complaints are handled 2.15 Parental complaints, if any, are handled effectively through a three-stage process, (informal, formal and a hearing before a panel of three, one of whom is independent of the school). Each stage has clear time scales, and at the third stage the panel can make findings and recommendations which are communicated to the complainant. Records are kept appropriately, including of any action taken, whether or not a complaint is successful. 2.16 The standard relating to the handling of complaints [paragraph 33] is met.
PART 8 – Quality of leadership in and management of schools 2.17 The proprietor ensures that the leadership and management demonstrate good skills and knowledge, and fulfil their responsibilities effectively, so that the other standards are consistently met and they actively promote the well-being of the pupils. 2.18 The standard relating to leadership and management of the school [paragraph 34] is met.
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
Inspection Evidence
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3. 3.1
Inspection Evidence
The inspectors observed lessons, conducted formal interviews with pupils and examined samples of pupils’ work. They held discussions with members of staff and with a governor, observed a sample of the extra-curricular activities that occurred during the inspection period, and attended form registrations and assemblies. Inspectors visited the facilities for the youngest pupils, together with the learning support and educational resource areas. The responses of parents, staff and pupils to preinspection questionnaires were analysed, and the inspectors examined curriculum and other documentation made available by the school.
Inspectors Mr Matthew Lovett
Reporting inspector
Ms Louise Squire
Compliance team inspector (Assistant head, IAPS school)
© Independent Schools Inspectorate 2019
The Portsmouth Grammar Junior School – February 2019
